L: Linda Ford, Chief Executive, CILEx
C: Keith Barrett, Fieldfisher and winner of the lifetime achievement award
R: Philip Sherwood, President, CILEx
From Legal Futures’ Associate CILEx.
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives has unveiled the winners of its inaugural National Awards, celebrating the best and the brightest in the profession.
The nominees and winners demonstrated the range of environments CILEx members work in, from large City law firms to thriving high street practices, and from local government to professional institutions. They also show their diversity – the winners reflect that 74% of members are women, and 14% are from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background.
At the ceremony at Shakespeare’s Globe in London last night, hosted by actress and comedian Sally Phillips, Fieldfisher partner Keith Barrett was given a lifetime achievement award in recognition of his outstanding service to both CILEx and the wider legal community.
A member of the CILEx Council for 11 years until 2017, Keith has built a reputation as a leading individual in the aviation sector, representing victims of aviation disasters, road crashes and accidents at work. He is well known too for his pro bono work, including representing victims of the 7/7 bombings in London and the Finsbury Park mosque attack.
He recently hit the headlines with a case which has led to calls for cycling laws to be brought into line with the Road Traffic Act, recognising causing death or serious injury by dangerous or careless cycling as an offence.
Other winners included Christine Bunting, a director of specialist Court of Protection firm Hyphen Law (Advancing the Legal Profession Award); Amanda Glover, managing partner of Surrey firm BakerLaw (Visionary Leadership Award); national law firm DAC Beachcroft (Innovation and People Development Award); and York-based Minster Law (Promoting Access to the Profession Award).
CILEx Chief Executive Linda Ford, who was one of the awards judges, says: “Our members make a major contribution to their clients, the profession and the rule of law and it is important to recognise their achievements.
“A notable change in the profession over recent years is that Chartered Legal Executives are increasingly coming out of the back office and into leadership positions within their firms and the wider profession. They are standing shoulder to shoulder with solicitor and barrister colleagues, showing the value of the CILEx route to qualification.”
The National Awards form part of the ‘CILEx is changing’ project, which aims to promote the value of both CILEx and its members. This also saw a major overhaul of the organisation’s governance earlier this summer.
The full list of winners:
Innovation & People Development Award
Minster Law
Visionary Leadership Award
Amanda Glover, Baker Law LLP
Promoting Access to the Profession Award
DAC Beachcroft LLP
Apprentice of the Year Award
Abigail Exelby, North Yorkshire County Council
Advancing the Legal Profession Award
Christine Bunting, Hyphen Law
Legal Expert Award
Philippa Morgan, Lyons Davidson Limited
Legal Expert – Property Award
Sally Trevaskis, Wolferstans
Legal Expert – Private Client Award
Ian Hunt, East Devon Law
Supporting Lifelong Learning Award
Sally Swift, Browne Jacobson LLP
Diversity & Inclusion Award
Trowers & Hamlins
CILEx Regional Branch of the Year
Devon Branch
CILEx Lifetime Achievement Award
Keith Barrett, Fieldfisher
CILEx Award for Academic Achievement
Karen Whyte
CILEx Employee of the Year
Louise Tyrrell
Our dedicated awards page is here: http://bit.ly/CILExAwards2018
